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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Presentation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Levee Inspection Results for the six Middle Creek Levee Systems in Lake County; Briefing on the status of key San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency projects; Consideration of permit to restore parcel adjacent to Sacramento River. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board from 10am to 1pm. Agenda items include Delta Conveyance Project Final Environmental Impact Report Review, Draft Delta Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms Monitoring Strategy, Food webs review; Fellowship reflections. Click here for full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Sierra Nevada residents prepare for up to 3 feet of snow
“The first spring storm comes nearly three weeks after a cold weather pattern dropped more than 12 feet of snow across the Sierra. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the Northern and Central Sierra. Forecasters expect significant travel delays this weekend on major highways due to snow, icy roads and strong winds. But for outdoor adventurists, another storm is a chance to shred some powder. Resorts like Palisades Tahoe, northwest of Lake Tahoe, expect more than 1 1/2 feet of snow this weekend, especially since the snow year started abysmal at best. In January, snow totals across the Sierra measured around 25% of the average, but now are at 99% of the average for this time of year. … ” Read more from KQED.
SEE ALSO: *Northern California braces for more mountain snow and wind: ‘Travel is highly discouraged’, from the Sacramento Bee
Active, wetter and cooler pattern to return to CA during late March
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “Well, it’s official: Winter 2023-2024 ended up broadly warmer and wetter than average across the Western U.S. There were essentially no exceptions to the “warmer” half of the coin, though some regions were warmer than others (including the San Joaquin Valley, where this past winter was either the warmest or second warmest in over a century of record-keeping depending on where you were). There was a bit more variability in the precipitation department, with the main exception of interest to the Weather West audience likely being the Tahoe/Reno-area “doughnut hole” of slightly drier than average conditions. Still, most of CA ended up wetter than average this past winter (including all coastal areas), and a few spots (mainly in patches of central and southern CA) ended up in the top 10% of wettest years on record. This does include a fairly dry and unremarkable December in some areas, so the Jan-Mar statistics may be even more impressive on the wet side in SoCal (I would expect a wider region of top 10% coverage, in accordance with our “back weighted” winter). … ” Continue reading at Weather West.
NOAA spring outlook: What will new season bring to California?
“”2023 as a whole was the warmest year on record, and the U.S. was no exception,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “Warmer than average temperatures are favored for most of the U.S. with the exception of some areas in the southwest, and northern and central High Plains.” Two consecutive wet winters led to above average rainfall in California. “2024 began with a parade of atmospheric rivers, but the focus of this moisture this year was further south into Central and Southern California,” said Gottschalck. All of the rain helped eliminate the state’s drought and supplied major reservoirs with plenty of water. Gottschalck said most of the east and California are expected to remain drought-free this spring. Heading into warmer months, NOAA predicts El Niño will weaken through the spring into a neutral state before La Niña conditions develop this summer. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
SEE ALSO: *The US may catch a spring break on weather. Forecasters see minimal flooding and drought for spring, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Congressman Valadao urges Reclamation to increase water allocations for South-of-Delta contractors
“Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) took to the House Floor to urge the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to increase water allocations for South-of Delta agricultural repayment and water service contractors. In February, Reclamation announced an initial allocation of 15% for South-of-Delta agricultural repayment and water service contractors. Congressman Valadao highlighted that every major reservoir in California is above the 15-year average, and the snowpack in the Sierras is at more than 100% of the average for this time of year. “I urge Reclamation to increase these allocations for South-of-Delta water contractors to reflect the record year that we are surviving in right now. Our ability to grow food for the nation will not survive without a reliable water supply for South-of-Delta agriculture,” said Congressman Valadao. … ” Read more from Congressman Valadao.
Invasive plants pose a threat to the Delta. Here’s how agencies are fighting back
“Invasive plants have taken root in the West Coast’s largest estuary, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. It’s a problem the Division of Boating and Waterways works to control annually. “They tend to grow out and they tend to push out taking over a lot of the waterways,” said Jeffrey Caudill, a program supervisor for the Aquatic Invasive Plant Control Program. Starting in March, crews work to keep the problem at bay by spraying herbicides and mechanically harvesting some sites. “If you can keep pushing them back and keep them controlled early, they become less of a problem later. In the summers, these plants can double in size, which makes them terribly difficult to control at that stage,” Caudill said. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Analysis: State Water Board’s conservation proposal is questioned
“Water experts and environmental justice advocates have analyzed the impacts of the State Water Board’s just-released updates to its proposed urban water conservation regulation. The updated draft regulation leaves California vulnerable to precipitation extremes under climate change, allowing for increases in water use in the near-term and delaying meaningful urban water conservation until 2040. With the California Department of Water Resources predicting a reduction in water supplies of 10% by 2040, the delay will likely force urban water suppliers to over-invest in more expensive new sources of water instead of advancing conservation measures that are more affordable and more equitable. … ” Read more from The Press.
Second groundwater agency facing state probation, lawsuit
“A second group of local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) is facing an evaluation by the State Water Board that could lead to a year-long probation and perhaps loss of local control of groundwater pumping in southwestern Tulare county. The first group of GSAs reported to be under consideration for probation was the Tulare Lake subbasin. The second problematic district is the Tule Subbasin. The process of considering probation for the seven GSAs in the Tule Subbasin will begin with a pair of public hearings in early April. … ” Read more from the Valley Voice.
Dos Rios is California’s first state park in 15 years, and it has a lot to do
“One of Kimberly Stevenot’s responsibilities as a kid was to hang out by the side of the road and look for park rangers—or anyone else who looked like they might be trouble. The Tuolumne Rancheria, where many Northern Sierra Mewuk had lived since they were forced out of their homes, was granite and solid red clay. It was about as bad as a place could be for growing anything. So her family snuck around to the few places where the plants they had gardened for generations still grew. Many of those places were in state and national parks. Those places were better than nothing, but not great. The parks were overgrown, and the plants needed hand-weeding. Controlling weeds with fire, the way the Mewuk used to, was too risky—so much as picking a berry in a state park without authorization put them in violation of California Code 4306. Later, when they learned more about pesticides, that was another worry. … ” Read more from Bay Nature.
California’s watershed healing: experts unite to discuss the vital role of healthy forests in water supply and our communities
“In a groundbreaking panel discussion following the 2024 screening of the documentary California’s Watershed Healing ,(please watch the film at the end of this post), leading scientists and policymakers convened to address critical issues related to water supply, forest health, and climate resilience. The film, directed by James Thebaut, sheds light on the interconnectedness of healthy forests and our communities and the urgent need for collaborative and innovative work to restore our forests. The panel and audience delved into actionable solutions and near-term and future needs that must be implemented to tackle this critical issue. The panelists shared their insights, emphasizing the importance of healthy forests and proactive forest management in maintaining California’s water balance, the creation of a restoration economy, and how to increase the pace and scale of this forest restoration work. … ” Read more and watch movie at the South Yuba River Citizens League.
California Forever: Registrar of Voters warns voters of misinformation
“The Solano County Registrar of Voters is warning voters about the presence a fraudulent petition making the rounds for voters to sign. The office has received multiple reports of circulators collecting signatures either with incorrect information or for a petition to stop the East Solano Homes, Jobs and Clean Energy Initiative. No such petition has been cleared for circulation. “Only one local initiative has been approved for circulation, and that petition is to authorize rezoning of 17,500 acres of Solano County agricultural land for a new community,” said Tim Flanagan, Chief Information Officer and Registrar of Voters. “Anyone who signed a petition and wishes to withdraw their signature may do so by contacting our office.” The group encourages voters to carefully read petitions before signing them. … ” Read more from MSN News.
Do we need to plant different grapes for California wine to survive climate change?
“Even the zealots who obdurately believe that human beings don’t have anything to do with it can’t deny the planet is heating up. Last year was the hottest year in recorded history around the globe and this year is projected to be… wait for it… even hotter. This has caused an incredible amount of conversation, consternation, and contemplation in the wine industry. While climate change (or climate chaos as some more aptly describe it) doesn’t always mean hotter times, it seems like higher temps and drought may become much more common in California. That prompts a fundamental question that many wine growers are increasingly asking themselves: what grape varieties should we be thinking about growing in a much hotter world? … ” Read more from the Vinography blog.
*Why the spread of organic farms may prompt growers to use more pesticide, not less
“To help California fight climate change, air quality regulators would like to see 20% of the state’s farmland go organic by 2045. That means converting about 65,000 acres of conventional fields to organic practices every year. But depending on how that transition happens, the change could lead to an overall increase in the amount of pesticide used by growers throughout the state. So suggests a new study in the journal Science that examined how organic farms influence the behavior of their neighbors. Researchers found that when new organic fields come online, the insects that come with them may prompt conventional growers to boost their pesticide use by an amount large enough to offset the reduction in organic fields — and then some. “We expect an increase in organic in the future,” said study leader Ashley Larsen, a professor of agricultural and landscape ecology at UC Santa Barbara. “How do we make sure this is not causing unintended harm?” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Organic farms can have mixed effects on pesticide use depending on their neighbors, from the UCSB Current
Plans for water equity in a warming world
“As 2021 drew to a close, residents and community leaders in Kettleman City were getting increasingly nervous. After receiving only 5 percent of their annual state water allocation and with no additional allocations on the horizon, the small, unincorporated farmworker community midway between Fresno and Bakersfield was due to run out of water by the end of the year. “They appealed to the Department of Water Resources for emergency supplies and were granted 96 acre-feet, but that would only cover about 30 percent of their needs,” says Kristin Dobbin, assistant professor of cooperative extension in the UC Berkeley Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. “They were caught completely surprised.” While Kings County officials eventually were able to purchase the additional water that Kettleman City needed at a high cost from a Southern California water district, the episode was a harbinger of the challenges that disadvantaged California communities could face to meet their water needs as the frequency, duration, and intensity of droughts increases. … ” Read more from the University of California.
California’s new megafires are taking a toll on wildlife habitat, researchers find
“California’s long-toed salamanders are one of the species threatened by rising rates of extreme fire in the state. Named for the unusual length of one of its hind toes, this salamander is typically dark gray or black with yellow or green markings on its back and measures up to three inches long from snout to vent. During massive California wildfires in 2020 and 2021, about 14% of the long-toed salamander’s range in the affected areas were burned by high-severity fire — the most of any species studied as part of a broader investigation into the toll of these fires on the region’s wildlife habitat. A recent article in the peer-reviewed journal PNAS found these fires, which burned more than 19,000 square kilometers, largely in California’s Western Cordillera ecoregion, burned the habitat of more than 500 vertebrate species. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
Our future with fire
“Wildfires in California have increased fivefold since 1971. In 2020, nearly 10,000 wildfires burned 3.5 million acres of California. Now, an exhibit at UC Davis makes manifest the impending impact of California’s fiery future. “These larger, more severe, more intense fires are something that we’re going to have to deal with,” said Brett Miligan, UC Davis professor of landscape architecture and environmental design. Pyro Futures, a current exhibit at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, explores the reality of a fire-integrated landscape through interactive displays and mixed media. The installation, designed by Milligan and Emily Schlickman, also a professor in landscape architecture and environmental design, is on view until June 16. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
In commentary today …
Half measures aren’t enough: California must confront hatchery and harvest impacts to achieve salmon recovery goals
Bradley J Cavallo writes, “In February, Governor Newsom released a plan to recover California’s salmon. The strategy – California’s salmon strategy for a hotter, drier future: Restoring aquatic ecosystems in age of climate change – sets an overarching goal of the recovery of salmon and reduction of extinction risk across the ranges of four salmon species, several distinct Chinook salmon runs, and steelhead. The Governor’s strategy describes a serious commitment to salmon and their habitats, and the diverse ecosystems upon which both depend. For those concerned about California salmon, the strategy is an encouraging and positive conservation development. At the same time, two issues critical to the recovery of California salmon were conspicuous in their omission from the Governor’s salmon strategy. The first issue relates to the need to improve management and monitoring of ocean-harvest; better protections for salmon stocks listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, which include Sacramento winter-run, Central Valley spring-run and Coastal Chinook. The second issue is the need to assure that salmon produced by hatcheries are monitored and managed to improve the productivity, fitness, and life-history diversity of both hatchery-generated and wild fish. … ” Continue reading at the Center for California Water Resources and Management.
Today is World Water Day …
Drought, heat and mismanagement make getting fresh water an increasingly tough task
“As the world warms from human-caused climate change, fresh water for drinking, cooking and cleaning is becoming harder to get for many people. That’s because the warming world is leading to erratic rainfall patterns, extreme heat and periods of drought — on top of decades of bad water management and extractive policies around the world. The United Nations estimates that around 2.2 billion people worldwide don’t have access to safely managed drinking water. This World Water Day, Associated Press journalists from around the world interviewed some of the people struggling to get fresh water. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
MORE WORLD WATER DAY:
- Pacific Institute Reflects on World Water Day Theme: Water for Peace, from the Pacific Institute
- ‘Water for Peace’ means water for all: for people and planet, from SEI
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Mendocino: Updates on Sea Level Rise plan provided at Grass Roots meeting
“Both the County and City provided updates at a Grass Roots Institute meeting last week on how they are spending the millions in dollars of grants they received from the Coastal Commission to update planning documents and account for changes in sea level rise. The meeting drew approximately 48 participants from communities up and down the coast. The planning documents are known as Local Coastal Programs (LCPs). The County’s LCP was established in 1985 and partially updated in 2017. Fort Bragg’s was established in 1983 and last updated in 2008. The LCP sets policies that identify and protect coastal resources, prioritizes land and water uses, and determines when development can occur. Coastal resources typically include wetlands, agriculture, cultural assets, sensitive habitats, scenic vistas, public access, fisheries, etc. While each grant is tailored toward the community’s needs, it’s intended to serve. They all include a comprehensive public information campaign and the need to incorporate sea level rise into the LCPs. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
*Eel-Russian Project Authority advances plans for post-Potter Valley Project water diversions
“Officials are moving forward with plans for a new pump system to secure continued diversions from the Eel River to supply Lake Mendocino and the Russian River. The new system will replace structures that will be taken out when PG&E removes its two dams from the area. The goal is to secure sufficient reservoir storage and year-round flows in the Russian River after Pacific Gas & Electric decommissions the Potter Valley hydroelectric project, which has channeled Eel River water for more than a century. Officials also aim to improve conditions for fish migration past the site of Cape Horn Dam, once it’s demolished, facilitating their movement into the remote reaches of the Eel River. Passage to the headwaters currently is blocked by Scott Dam, which also will come down in the not-so-distant future, eliminating Lake Pillsbury. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Nevada Irrigation District to implement conservation measures after PG&E infrastructure emergency
“Due to unanticipated infrastructure repairs in the Sierra Nevada headwaters that have cut off water supply, the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) will be implementing emergency conservation measures. This is a call for a voluntary water reduction of 20 percent by all District water customers for the remainder of 2024. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has informed NID of substantial repairs necessary to its water supply infrastructure that serves water to both Nevada and Placer counties. Repairs have begun, but the utility estimates restoration of flows is not anticipated until mid-June. “The lack of access to normal watershed runoff means NID will have to rely upon limited water storage to begin the irrigation season,” said General Manager Jennifer Hanson. “This reduced supply has created an emergency where conservation will be requested from all water customers.” … ” Read more from YubaNet.
Tahoe lead: Community-led effort to remove decades-old lead cables threatening Lake Tahoe
“The drive from South Lake Tahoe to the West Shore is filled with breathtaking views of crisp blue water, rugged alpine shores, and lakefront homes scattered throughout the treacherous landscape; but something is lurking below the lake’s surface that is also present on this majestic tour of Lake Tahoe – lead cables. From Baldwin Beach in South Lake Tahoe to the West Shore in Rubicon Bay, lead cables are present in Lake Tahoe, and have been for decades. In total, these lead cables span nearly 10% of Tahoe’s total shoreline, with a total length of 32,940 feet of cables, located directly below one of the most populated shoreline areas of Lake Tahoe. In an effort to aid in the removal of these dormant lead cables, a new organization is stepping up in the Lake Tahoe community to promptly remove these potentially harmful lead cables from the lake. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
$4 million in grants for forest restoration projects
“One could say Tulare County Supervisor Dennis Townsend was presented with a $4 million gift at his first meeting as a Sierra Nevada Conservancy board member. “I joked with them I’ll come up here every quarter. I’ll be at every single meeting if the give me $4 million every single time I walk into the door,” Townsend said. Actually the two grants totaling about $4 million for local forest restoration had already been proposed. It just so happened the board approved the grants at Townsend’s first meeting as a board member on March 7. Townsend now serves on the board representing, Tulare, Fresno, Madera and Mariposa Counties. Sierra Nevada Conservancy oversees grants for forest management and watershed projects. At the Marc 7 meeting the board awarded a $1.7 million grant to the Tule River Tribe for the Parker Peak Forest Restoration and Resilience Project. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
BAY AREA
*Editorial: Marin’s Newt Brigade continues its wonderful legacy
The Marin Independent Journal editorial board writes, “Aesop is credited with saying, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is wasted.” When it comes to small, the Greek fablist probably wasn’t referring to newts. But a number of Marin residents devote time and energy to helping make sure small newts get across the road safely. It is a deadly dilemma. Local amphibians face the risk of getting smashed by cars as the tiny beings make their migration across Chileno Valley Road to their breeding habitat in Laguna Lake, which is part of the Walker Creek watershed. The salamanders then have to crawl back across two lanes of asphalt back to the woods. West Marin rancher Sally Gale, after seeing the migrating newts five years ago – thousands of them, many of which had been run over and killed – decided to do something about it. Since then, Gale’s patrol has grown to more than 80 volunteers who take shifts patrolling a one-mile stretch of Chileno Valley Road, every night from October through March. They pick up the newts and move them safely across the road. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
A rare closeup on the Delta green ground beetle, a predator of the pools
“There is only one place you are likely to spot the brilliant green Delta green ground beetle, and that is Jepson Prairie, nestled amid Solano County’s farmland ten miles south of Dixon. Even in spring, the busy season for beetles and other denizens, the prairie doesn’t look like much—a windswept, sky-filled playa pool; smears of yellow or white across the mostly flat green; wire sheep-fencing running through muddy ditches. “It just looks like a swamp,” says photographer Dan Osipov, a Danville resident, recalling his first time at Jepson, last spring. Until you bend down, and your mind is blown. For Jepson, a 1,566-acre site owned by the Solano Land Trust, is a fount of biodiversity in miniature, with over 400 species—including many that are rare, threatened or endangered, because most of California’s vernal pools have been destroyed by human development. … ” Read more from Bay Nature.
*Toxic algae blooms force closure of several East Bay lakes and reservoirs
“A bloom of toxic blue-green algae has invaded lakes in the East Bay Regional Parks District, forcing the closure of half of its six swimming lakes. According to the district website, “danger” advisories went into effect after the most recent testing at Quarry Lake in Fremont, Del Valle in Livermore and Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton. All three lakes were immediately closed to swimming for people and pets, and signs were posted indicating that people should avoid contact with the water in these lakes and keep their pets out. Lake Chabot in Castro Valley, which is also closed, normally allows boating and fishing but not swimming. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
*San Jose Water customers could see big increases in the next three years
“Blaming rising inflation and higher operating costs, San Jose Water is seeking to hike rates by more than 20 percent over the next three years, sparking the ire of residents who complain their monthly bill is already too high. The company that delivers water to more than one million residents in parts of San Jose, Cupertino, Campbell, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos and Saratoga has asked the California Public Utilities Commission to allow it to increase rates between 2025 and 2027. If approved, customers would see an average monthly increase of 12.3%, or $13.18, in 2025; 4%, or $4.82, in 2026, and 4.5%, or $5.68, in 2027. Currently, the average customer pays $107.44 a month, but under the new proposal, they could see that number increase to $131.12 a month by 2027. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
*Panetta secures $3 million for Carmel River floodplain project
“U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta has secured $3 million in federal funding for a major flood and restoration project on the Carmel River. Called the Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project, or FREE, the project is one of the most extensive flood protection and habitat restoration efforts on the Central Coast. Through federal, state, local and community funding, the project will reclaim the southern floodplain near the mouth of the Carmel River. The project is being led by the Big Sur Land Trust in partnership with Monterey County. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
San Simeon CSD takes first step toward dissolving
“The San Simeon Community Services District board unanimously voted to begin the process of dissolution during a special meeting on Friday, March 15. Since December, the district has weighed its options—whether it should divest a portion of the services it provides, which include water, wastewater, roads, streetlighting, and waste management; dissolve altogether; or push forward into the future. On March 15, the Community Services District’s (CSD) contracted legal counsel, Nubia Goldstein from White, Brenner LLP, said the board had two routes to consider. Both involved giving up local governing control, “giving up that government power, in essence to be taken over by a different government.” … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
San Luis Obispo receives $6.6 million for wells to treat water pollution
“The city of San Luis Obispo expects a $6.6 million monetary injection from the state to cure its groundwater from a stubborn toxic chemical prevalent since the 1980s. “Thankfully, the work done on the groundwater sustainability plan has provided a thorough understanding of the basin, and previous rounds of this project which focused on identifying the extent of the PCE contamination and studied the feasibility of the cleanup project,” said Nick Teague, the city water resources program manager. “These have positioned us so that there should not be any roadblocks.” … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
North Kern approves eminent domain to build new water recharge facility
“North Kern, which stretches along Highway 99 from Bakersfield to near McFarland, annexed an area known as the “Rosedale Ranch Improvement District (RRID)” in 1966. That chunk of land is generally bounded by Allen and Superior roads on the east and west ends and 7th Standard and Hageman roads on the north and south sides, with another smaller section above 7th Standard. That ground has access to very little surface water, so is mostly dependent on groundwater. It is also rapidly developing from ag to suburban uses. In compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, North Kern has been working to find more water recharge opportunities. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Increasing access to surface water in Arvin
“By delivering surface water to agricultural lands, the water district will protect disadvantaged communities that rely on groundwater for drinking water. Video shows how Arvin-Edison Water Storage District’s new project will increase access to surface water in previously groundwater-only areas. Starting Fall 2024, the water district will begin building 7.5 miles of new pipeline throughout 2,800 acres of land. The 15 million dollar project is funded partially by state and federal grants, including 3.25 million dollars secured by U.S. Congressman David Valadao. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
EASTERN SIERRA
*Commentary: White Paper details the science behind abundant water storage in the IWV
George Cross, General Manager of the Indian Wells Valley Water District, writes, “On February 23, 2024, as part of the IWV Water District’s Basin Adjudication, the water district released to the public a White Paper on Groundwater in Storage in the Indian Wells Valley. This release details the science used by the water district and other key stakeholders’ “Technical Working Group” consultants to estimate the amount of total groundwater and potable groundwater in storage in the IWV. Storage represents a critical component of sustainability for the IWV Basin aquifer. Another critical component is basin recharge, which will also be released once fully vetted and finalized by the Technical Working Group. … ” Continue reading at the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
*Another rainstorm is heading to Southern California this weekend
“Southern Californians can expect to see another bout of rain and cooler temperatures this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The storm isn’t expected to be as intense as the record-breaking atmospheric river systems that drenched Southern California in February, and it’s not projected to cause major damage. Friday is expected to be dry, with high temperatures in the 70s in downtown Los Angeles, National Weather Service meteorologist David Gomberg said. The storm could arrive Saturday morning and continue through Sunday before tapering off Monday, according to Gomberg. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
EPA orders City of Los Angeles to implement improvements to Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with the City of Los Angeles, LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) that requires improvements be made at the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant in Playa del Rey, California. In July 2021, LASAN violated its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and the Clean Water Act (CWA) by discharging 12.5 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Santa Monica Bay, and by exceeding several NPDES effluent limitations for months after the July incident. “When plants of this magnitude fail, it causes ripple effects that impact access to Los Angeles’ beaches and the health of ocean wildlife,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “These improvements will help prevent failures and reduce large beach contamination events for Los Angeles residents and visitors.” … ” Read more from the EPA.
SEE ALSO: *After massive sewage spill, feds order fixes at L.A. water plant to improve resilience, from the LA Times
Big Bear CSD says ‘no’ to water project changes
“The Big Bear City Community Services District voted to reject changes to a Joint Powers Authority and operating agreement for a plan to treat wastewater so that it may be used locally rather than being transported to Lucerne Valley farms, aka the Replenish Big Bear Project. Board member voted 5-0 at their March 4 meeting to reject the amendments. Amendments were added at the request of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to meet underwriting requirements for obtaining federal financing for the Replenish Big Bear Program in the form of a loan secured by revenues of the Agency, otherwise known as the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. … ” Read more from the Big Bear Grizzly.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Quechan appeal holds up; Oro Cruz project goes down
“In what has been a years-long fight to fend off efforts to mine sites and areas the Quechan Indian Tribe say are culturally significant, the tribe was victorious in preserving those sites this week with an unexpected win against Canada’s SMP Gold Corp. With a 3-1 decision, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 19, approved two appeals submitted on previously approved reclamation plans by the Imperial County Planning Commission for SMP Gold’s Oro Cruz exploratory mining project after months of hearings, delays and public comments. Supervisors Jesus Escobar, Ryan Kelley and Mike Kelley voted “yes,” John Hawk voted “no” and Chairperson Luis Plancarte recused himself. A denial of the appeals would have given final sign off from the county, allowing the company to move to the next phase in its mineral exploration plans in the Cargo Muchacho Mountains and Indian Pass region in eastern Imperial County. … ” Read more from the Holtville Tribune.
SAN DIEGO
The high-tech ways San Diego’s water transmission pipelines are maintained
“It takes a lot of pipelines to get water to all of San Diego County’s nearly three-and-a-half-million people. This story is about large-diameter pipelines. Three hundred eight miles of those big pipes run all through the county, delivering water to the San Diego County Water Authority and its 23 member agencies. So, it’s critical those pipelines are properly maintained. “These large diameter pipelines are known in the industry as transmission pipelines. So they’re like the main arteries in your body,” said Martin Coghill. Sticking with the medical analogy, you might call Martin Coghill the lead physician when it comes to the health of this area’s water transmission pipelines. His actual title is operations and maintenance manager for asset management for the Water Authority. … ” Read more from KPBS.
*Commentary: Blue carbon ecosystems have the power to protect fragile coastlines, but time is running out
The salt marshes and salt ponds of southern San Diego Bay are 450 miles north of the mangrove fringed Laguna San Ignacio, a gray whale birthing lagoon on the Pacific Coast of the Baja California Peninsula. While geographically separated, these coastal embayments are connected by a common biophysical trait that binds them together as the world searches for a way to address the growing climate crisis. In addition to being part of a linked chain of saltwater refuges on the Pacific Flyway that provide habitat such as black brant, Eastern Pacific green sea turtles and important fisheries resources, we now know that these aquatic habitats called “blue carbon ecosystems” not only help us adapt to climate change, but can help us mitigate it as well. Aquatic habitats such as seagrasses (also known as eelgrass), salt marshes and mangroves, are vital economic and recreational assets, and their ecosystem services, or the ecological benefits they provide, are key to addressing the increasing impacts of climate change. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Senator Padilla announces $103M for South Bay Sewer Plant repair
“U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said Thursday that he has secured more than $103 million in additional funding to help repair the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant located near the U.S.- Mexico border. In a news release, Padilla said the money was appropriate for the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission, as part of a bipartisan package. The bill also allows other federal agencies, along with state and local governments, to contribute funds to the IBWC plant’s rehabilitation and reconstruction, Padilla’s office said. The announcement comes in the wake of growing concern by coastal city and county leaders over border sewage pollution, which has closed San beaches for hundreds of days. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
Along the Colorado River …
*Parasite found in Calif. area of Colorado river, but Las Vegas water supply remains safe
“As the weather warms and spring draws closer, Lake Mead is bound to see an increase of swim-starved residents ready to pack their coolers, lay out their towels and possibly take a dip in the water with their best furry friend. And while a parasite dangerous to dogs was discovered in a California section of the Colorado River, local experts aren’t raising any red flags about canines being at risk when visiting the lake. “We’re definitely aware of these reports and we are monitoring, but we do also routinely check the water for different things on a regular basis across the whole park,” said John Haynes, public information officer at the National Parks Service. “We’ve not seen anything at Lake Mead.” … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Sun.
*Commentary: Arizona utilities deplete our water resources
Rick Rappaport, a member of Tucson Climate Coalition, Tucson Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby and Arizonans for Community Choice Energy, writes, ““Water is Life,” was the Lakota rallying cry at Standing Rock as thousands weathered severe freezing conditions to stop an oil pipeline threat to their water. In Arizona water is life too but here we’re way beyond having our water resources threatened. They’re right now being needlessly and excessively plundered for corporate profit as the Arizona Corporation Commission rolls out the red carpet for fossil fuel energy, depletes our precious water resources and ends up maximizing utility shareholders’ dividends. Now most of us can wrap our heads around this — burning fossil fuels to make electricity causes and worsens climate change, but it’s harder to wrap your head around just how much water is consumed in the process. Here’s how much water is used by different energy sources to produce 1 megawatt hour of electricity. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Recent storms have pushed Colorado’s snowpack above ‘normal,’ but crucial water reservoirs are lagging behind last year
“A wave of late-winter storms has pushed snow accumulation in all of Colorado’s major water-storage basins above normal levels for the first time this year, data show. Statewide, snowpack — which melts into a crucial water source for the state and becomes the primary supply for the Colorado River system that supplies 40 million people across the West — has now exceeded long-term climate averages. Suzanne Paschke, a hydrologist and deputy director of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Colorado Water Science Center, said recent snowstorms “has everyone excited for improvements,” but said much of the state will likely have a smaller snow-fed water supply this year than it did in 2023. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
In national water news today …
Water conservation vital to make cities more resilient to climate change
“As global temperatures are expected to rise by at least 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, environmental researchers urge a greater focus on water conservation as the precious resource is set to become scarcer due to climate change. In a report released Thursday by the SUREAL Engineering Lab, a collaboration between the University of Miami and EXP U.S. Services Inc., researchers urged local leaders to adopt region-specific conservation plans in favor of centralized systems. “Rapid urbanization and rising water use, which put stress on centralized systems, provide significant difficulties for urban water infrastructure,” Esber Andiroglu, University of Miami professor and lead author of the report, wrote. “Historically, cities have relied on these systems, but they are unable to meet the growing needs and are made worse by problems including resource-intensive operations, outdated infrastructure and inefficient energy use,” Andiroglu wrote. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Murky deadline looms for Biden’s regs
“Federal agencies know they’re in a race against the clock to complete President Joe Biden’s most consequential energy and environmental regulations. The problem is no one knows how much time they have left. At issue is the Congressional Review Act, which allows lawmakers to void rules after they’re finalized by the executive branch. Years of work to craft regulations can be nixed within days if simple majorities in the House and Senate support a resolution of disapproval — and the president signs on. Biden can veto the measures, as he has been for those targeting his administration’s rules. But if he loses his reelection bid, former President Donald Trump could repeat what he did when he was last in the White House: slashing regulations left and right after they’re delivered on his desk by Republican lawmakers, if they take control of Capitol Hill next year. … ” Read more from E&E News.
